Getting somewhere...

I believe I may finally be getting somewhere close to having a diagnosis. :-) it isn't at all what I had hoped for as the condition the consultant thinks I might have is a chronic condition with no cure. He thinks I may have interstitial cystitis which is a very painful condition also known as painful bladder syndrome. They can do things to treat the symptoms but from what my GP has said it is a very difficult condition to treat!!! The pain has been compared to chronic cancer pain .. Which I can imagine would feel like this!!!! I guess once I get a confirmed diagnosis it may make things easier to deal with because at least then I will know why I am in so much agony!!! I have to carry on taking morphine until I next see the consultant and then hopefully he might be able to recommend something else!!! I have been signed off work for another 3 months as my GP thinks that's how long it will take to get me to a manageable level. She did also say that with the condition, it can just go away as quick as it came and can flare up every now and again. She said that I may have a bad bout for a couple of years and then have no problems for 10 years. Then again... I might suffer for ages with no relief :-( I really hope that isn't the case and that something can be done as I really want to go back to work!!!!!!

The picture is a latest picture of me... Not feeling very well at all!! It was on one of the rare days I got myself dressed with my make up on.. I usually spend my days wearing pjs, hair tied back and no make up :-( for any one who knows me... You will know I love my makeup and it takes a lot for me to go without it!!!

Bruised...

Today I am going to have a moan about falling off my bed! Yes you heard right! I was stupidly attempting to get a book off my shelf and I lost my footing and fell onto my bedside table... Ouch! Not only have I now made my abdo pain worse, I now have a stiff,swollen and very bruised leg :-( It's my own fault really as I shouldn't have even tried getting the book from the shelf.. I should have asked someone but I hate bothering people and I think my family are getting quite sick of me not being able to do things for myself! Anyway... there going to have to do even more for me now as I can hardly move due to increased pain from my abdomen and my back... I honestly didn't think the pain could get any worse! I was proved wrong as I am in even more excruciating pain now :-( When will this end!!!

I don't know if  I have already blogged about my appts... I have received two appts through the post. One to have a CT scan and the other for a Cystoscopy... both of them are over one weekend at the end of April! Yes... a weekend. I was confused about that too!!! And to make it even more bizarre .. one of the appointments is after 5pm on the Sunday!!! I'm hoping that after these two appts I will be sorted and can go back to work.

I was doing some CPD work tonight and I have realised just how much I actually miss work :-( I cannot wait until I am well enough to go back.

I am currently trying to type with my cat sat under my arm!! Guess she didn't want me to blog today aha!

I have also realised today that I haven't linked my Twitter in any of my posts. So here goes.... If you would like to follow me (I will follow back!) go to : @LauraAtkin 

My Dad Has Joined The Poorly Club.....

I am a bit worried about my Dad at the moment, my Mum has had to take him to Hospital tonight as his side of his face has gone numb.
I haven't told you but, he was admitted to Hospital on Friday night as he has been suffering with severe headaches and the GP thought he may have Temporal Arteritis - which is a throbbing artery in the side of your head which can cause all kinds of problems such as a stroke.
Anyway, his bloods tests didn't support this so he was sent home with some pain killers and asked to wait for a CT scan appt to come through the post... The hospital is absolutely rubbish!
He is still suffering with headaches and now tonight this has happened.
I really do hope that he is ok.
Looks like it is going to be another restless night for me as my Mum has asked me to stay awake so she can let me know how he is getting on.
So I am sat in bed trying to find something to take my mind off that and also my pain!!!
I have had a rotten day, been feeling sick for the majority of the day and also my pain has been really bad. Hoping that I will hear from the hospital sometime soon with an appt to have my CT scan done. (Nothing like using up all of the NHS resources lol - what between me and my Dad, I think we have definitely had our moneys worth recently).

MUA Lipstick Review

Lipstick in Shade 14 - Bare

The first product I am going to review is the MUA lipstick in shade 14 – Bare. 

This product cost me £1 and I think this is exceptionally good value. I have only worn the product once but it did last for quite some time. 

Where it shows the colour on the bottom of the lipstick it can be unscrewed and there is a little tester pot which I think is very cute. My finger won’t actually fit in the pot to use it like a lip balm but it will be great for using with a lip brush. 

For £1, I think the packaging is ok, it isn’t as high end as some of the more expensive brands obviously... but what do you expect for £1. 

The lid fits on tightly, therefore ideal to put in your handbag without getting lipstick all over!  

The lipsticks come in 16 different shades from red to nude. I’m not usually a nude lipstick person but for £1 I thought I would give it a go and I have to say I am very very pleased I did. 

The lipstick I bought in shade 14 applies very nicely, it is very creamy and it looks very glossy once on the lips, this particular shade is also very workable and can be built up depending on the look you are going for. The lipstick is in fact very moisturising and I didn’t find that it went dry at all, unlike some cheap lipsticks do. The smell of the lipstick is lovely, it is sweet and vanillary. 

I am definitely going to purchase more MUA lipsticks.

Personally, I think you can’t go wrong for £1 and that they are definitely worth trying out!
I think the best way to purchase any of MUA's products is through their website, at the moment they are offering free delivery for orders over £25. The link for the website is: http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/

Update from the Hospital.

I forgot to say on my last post that I have now seen the Urology Doctor and it has been decided that I will have a CT scan carried out and also a Cystoscopy.
They did a special scan whilst I was there to find out if my bladder was emptying properly and it showed that it was only emptying by 76%. The Dr believes this is why I keep getting UTI's as urine is staying in my bladder for a length of time and bacteria is being produced. The Nurse also tested my urine and once again I have a bad UTI, so I'm on yet another course of antibiotics. This time very strong ones... hopefully they will clear it up, but for how long.. who knows! They think that I may have some kind of blockage, stone or narrowing of one of my tubes. Hopefully, they will be able to find the cause and treat it pretty fast. I would like to be able to go back to work some time next month... Wishful thinking I know.
I am dreading having the CT scan done as I am slightly claustrophobic. I also have to have some special dye passed through a canula in the back of my hand. I don't know if you know but when I went for my colonoscopy, it took the Dr 8 attempts to canulate me. Needless to say, I came out like a watering can :-) Every time I go for my bloods taken or anything like that, it takes them so long to get any from me! My Mum says it is because I don't like sharing haha. Anyway... I will be sure to write another post after I have had all my investigations done :-)